8822-1 Iron Prince Reef - Cape Howe

Sites 8822 1 to 10 - Mallacoota to Cape Howe

This information has been developed from the publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in Central Gippsland (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams and S.M Kraemers.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Gippsland Lakes Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in East Gippsland, Victoria (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams

Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	Mallacoota 615445. Coastal area extending 2 km south-west from Cape Howe and 1 km inland.	Transverse dunes - Cape Howe to Iron Prince Reef. Arrow indicates dominant wind direction.
Abstract:	Active transverse dune ridges behind rocky foreshore.
Access:	From Victoria the most direct access is by foot around the beach from Mallacoota or from termination of 4-wheel drive tracks on Howe Flat. Restricted walking access is possible from New South Wales via the Nadgee Nature Reserve.
Ownership:	Crown Land (Croajingolong National Park).
Geology:	Red and brown sandstone and shale beds of the Merimbula Formation outcrop at Iron Prince Reef an north-eastward along the coast to Cape Howe. Limited exposures occur between dune ridges inland. At the reef, the beds strike north-westerly with dips 300 to 400 to the north-east. Dips decrease to 80 to 100 near Cape Howe.
Geomorphology:	The outline of Iron Prince Reef is determined by the strike of the sediments and the outcrops on deflation surfaces inland from low but prominent strike ridges. Smaller reefs and an irregular shore platform occur towards Cape Howe and are in part covered with an irregular boulder and cobble beach. Of major geomorphological significance are parallel sets of active sand ridges that lie transverse to the prevailing south-westerly winds and are advancing down-wind between Lake Wau-Wauka and Cape Howe. At Cape Howe where the coast trends northerly, the ridges are blown from the land back into the sea.
Significance:	State. The outcrops of sedimentary rock are the only exposures of the Merimbula Group on the Victorian coast. The sand dunes constitute a major example of an active transverse ridge sequence undergoing rapid change.
Management:	Policies should be directed at preservation of the rock outcrops and minimizing the disturbance to the mobile dune ridges, e.g. by vehicle traffic. Stabilization or re-vegetation of the active dunes would reduce their scientific interest.
References:	Rosengren, N.J. 1978. The Physiography of Caostal Dunes, East Gippsland, Victoria. M.A. Thesis (unpub.), University of Melbourne. Rosengren, N.J. 1980, 'Dune Systems on Cuspate forelands, East Gippsland, Victoria', Proc. R. Soc. Vict., 92 :106-119.

Sites 8822-1 to 10

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